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Spotlight , * H WH0 Monday, October 28, 1985 , HE GAMECOCK 1 Play depicts fi By MARY JO MILLER Staff writer Dumas: Pere et Fits, an irreverent view of French novelist Alexander Dumas, is a rollicking suprise for theatergoers expecting the staid chivalry of his fictional creations, the Three Musketeers. The play, which opened Fridav at Lonestreet Theatre, centers on the skirt-chasing Dumas' stormy relationship with his sensitive son. The father, played by Gary Heilsberg, and son, played by Michael Hawk, share more than a surname as they move through the rarefied air of 19thcentury French salons. They are both bastards and, doubly shameful, the product of mixed ancestry. The senior Dumas, the son of a Frenchman and a Santo Domingan slave, views his illegitimacy as a source of both pride and amusement. When confronted with his mixed blood by English aristocrats, Dumas' outrageous response sends a woman swooning and the audience into uproarious laughter. The younger Dumas, however, is ashamed of his heritage and disgusted with his father's decadent lifestyle. During the course of the play, the senior Dumas, who is writing his novel The Count of Monte Cristo, encourages his son to try his hand at writing. The younger Dumas declines. He is reluctant to enter a profession that would strengthen the tics between Girls' night out Naomi Judd (right) and her Jj[ ,J. daughter Wynonna performed Saturday at the South Carolina : " r2 * State Fair. The Judds were the lest in a number of famous country music acts to play the fair this EUIOT COHEN/Ttw CamecortBr^ A ATTE1 V Wm LAI fsinn II vy I\j| MM MISS BLACK when: Start Mondi where: The Informa floor of the Applications and criteria , ^ ather-son ties them. As the young man tries to forge his own identity, he unwittingly parodies his father's lifestyle. He masses gambling debts, drinks heavily and becomes embroiled in a number of unsavory affairs. And he secretly writes. Ultimately, the young Dumas must look to his father for literary advice, peace of mind and love. While the search for identity and the reconciliation between a father and son are not original topics, playwright John MacNicholas' decision to frame them around Alexander Dumas' colorful life adds a refreshing and comic angle. Heilsberg, with his dark, bushy hair and robust delivery, is both visually and dramatically convincing as the senior Dumas. Hawk's younger Dumas is a charming man-child ? a touching combination of youthful idealism and wordly knowledge gained from his father's peccadillos. Helen Baldwin, cast as young Dumas' languishing love interest, is attractive, but a bit too bloodless to portray the world-weary temptress Marie. She is apparently dying of an ailment that involves discreet coughing in a handkerchief. The audience can only assume it's tuberculosis. Chris Brown as an absurd duelist and John Emerson and Dalton Ward as his inept seconds deliver some of the richest comic relief. When they raise imaginary swords in a salute, these klutzy Musketeers i||gV|M I vlTION M& ' ps for the use PAGEANT ay October 28th, 1985. ition Desk on the second Russell House or the pageant will be available r_ | HHMHmBnHHn g I " . <H !- ^jt,::;^i'}fi' ' ' ' ' BHi^HHHHBHHHHENiBBD^?HHv> John Emerson, Irene Raxter, Gary Heilsberg, Michael Hawk i are irresistible. The set, designed by William Buck, is dominated by Dumas' paper-strewn, anarchic study. If chaos fosters genius, as Dumas tells his son, than Buck's study is a belivable workplace for the brilliant author. MacNicholas' play, like Dumas' novels, obviousI Lectui of gre From staff reports "When in doul day in the Russel Snnnsnrpri hv ( tivities, Robert E, ^-:T:lBiSipippgftfe'J //on of Going Gr v<@,:;'y i:'rt'.?: ; nationwide. |fp|p|?| ' Egan will disci ' T traditions with hi 1 r not only greeks, ' ' ;. j audiovisually. t ~T r- A 1975 gradua .! , society that was f oldest fraternity. i?h - ; New York City, ( To gain a bett x"v,:!;;\ more than 35,OOC His presentatio ' JMRftj initiation, party \ - f - From Here to i the greek system ' Man of La Manch pace at Coliseum By EDWARD BOHAN flawless, though Staff writer formance seem The North Carolina Opera restricted, partici Company presented a lively pro- show's open duction of Dale Wasserman's Quixote." Man of La Mancha Friday as Janis Eckhart < part of the Carolina Concert Aldonza, the Series. whom Don Quix Set in a prision in 16th-century his "Lady Dulcir Spain, the story centered on seem quite arrog; Miguel de Cervantes and his tale was her singing of an eccentric old man who fan- during her op tasizes that he is the noble knight "One Pair of A Don Quixote de La Mancha. shame, because John Reardon's role was cellent voice, b Get a HUE! m . cnicirgente a 1 order anytwo same U JPKLsJLI same-finish Kodak c m 1 enlargements. Get 1 enlargement free, f own labs. Just bring in your favorite KODACOLOR Film negatives, c slides, or color prints* for breathtaking e mentsfrom 8" x 12" to 16" x 24". Ask Hurry, offer runs September 30November 1,1985. MB j 'Slides. Mm negatives, or prints cannot be ! combined in Ihe same order lo qualify 808 HARDEN ST. COLUMBIA, S C. 29205 (803) 771 03Q6 JraHBrfr J v- ' I I I \ i:r;'^/-;^ :*'; -\ III ! ^11nMh TIM CURRY/Th? Gamecock # and Perry Simpson star in Dumas: Pare at Fils. ly isn't intended for strict realists, but rather for those willing to suspend disbelief in favor of largerthan-life characters and delicious plot twists. Dumas: Pere et Fils will continue its run Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. re to explore life seks nationwide * 3t, party" will be the theme of a lecture at 9 p.m. toI House Ballroom. Carolina Program Union as part of 'Ween Fling acgan, author of From Here to Fraternity: A Celebraeek on the College Campus, will explore greek life iss his book and dramatize wild and strange greek indreds of slides. The program is designed to attract ^ but also those who want to experience greek life w te of Harvard, Egan was a member of a fraternal ormerly a chapter of Delta Phi, the country's third Egan, who was originally from Greenwich Village in iescribes himself as a "six-pack kind of guy." er understanding of the greek system, he travelled i miles, interviewing more than 150 Greeks. n will include greek stereotypes, greek wear, rushing, >ranks, classical decorative articles and fundraising. fraternity, said to be the first guidebook to evaluate in such detail, will be available following the lecture. A a galloped a lively this weekend his singing per- more on tone than ed small and pronunciation. ilarly during the Quixote's faithful companion er, "1 Don Sancho, who accompanies Quix- ^ ote into battles against enchanted did a fair job as knights, windmills and other "kitchen slut" forces of evil, was delightfully ote worships as played by John David Gruett. lea." She didn't Hal Mcintosh gave a fine perant enough, nor formance as the malevolent foe, especially clear Dr. Carrasco. His powerful voice ening number, and menacing appearance were rms." That's a perfect for the part. she has an CV- Pf>rhcsr?c ?Vi*> finocf <V? ... . VI >mpj %iiv IIUVJl pel IUI lliailLV ut concentrates of the evening was given by Ted Forlow as the hapless barber who a happens upon the inn where Quixote and Sancho arc staying. His highly animated expressions Eand mannerisms were an absolute pleasure to behold. Forlow is also responsible for ? H the magnificent, spirited ch< "Ography. M N The best number concerned a priest (William MacDonald) besieged on one side by Antcnia, S-SIZ6, Quixote's self-serving niece iolor (Amelia Jester), and on the other ^ 3 third Quixote's housekeeper (Shazy W : Hopfenberg). Both ladies plead ra'n for something to be done about Quixote's "madness" because it puts them in unpleasant positions. But they insist that "We're Doing It All for Him!" The trio's I ? bright, perky voices, combined I c^ever direction, made this whimsical song simply f tim.* I outstanding. VifialfI Lending support on many _ J numbers, and more than making ?dl up lor the slight falters among Q|Qr the two leads, was a first-rate I chorus of young men. Their shin- ^ ? -j ? "i v?cal abilities were most w tor details. noticeable during "Little Bird, Little Bird" and the show's <i imii> 111 imii) finale, a reprise of "The Impossible Dream." iVI'.fcl The small orchestra under the J direction of Charles Rosekrans ______did an adequate job. The troupe made excellent use of the facilities available to them M at Carolina Coliseum, not the M most advantageous location to stage a musical play. The |i numerous scene changes were ^ I handled with such ease that they w I were scarcely noticeable.